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Chris Collins to begin prison term March 17

Bureau of Prisons decides where Collins will serve
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Posted at 4:45 PM, Jan 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-21 04:07:49-05

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Former congressman Chris Collins will begin his prison sentence on St. Patrick's Day, March 17.

Collins was sentenced Fridayto serve 26-months in prison for insider trading and lying to the FBI.

But it’s unclear what federal prison Collins will be sent to serve his time.

Collins’ defense team is asking the court to send the disgraced former congressman to a federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida.

Collins says he can no longer quote "face my constituents" in the Buffalo region.

After resigning last September, he left his longtime Clarence home in Spaulding Lake and moved to Marco Island, Florida.

The Pensacola prison would be closest to his new home.

It is a minimum-security federal prison camp with a total population of 572 inmates.

The inmate handbook says when an inmate arrives, they will complete an Admissions and Orientation Program, then receive a "permanent" work assignment.

Inmates can be searched, and drug tested at any time, are expected to maintain a "neat personal appearance at all times" and must follow the prison's dress code.

As for his 26-month sentence, 69-year-old Collins will most likely not serve his full-time. That’s because under federal law, older inmates are eligible for release after serving two-thirds of their sentence.

The final decision rests with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Collins' son, Cameron, will be sentenced Thursday, January 23rd to conspiring to securities fraud. Federal Probation is recommending a six-month prison term.